Watercraft stabilizing paddle holder

ABSTRACT

A watercraft stabilizing paddle holder and a water craft stabilizing paddle holder kit, the kit comprising a shaft brace having a lower shaft support surface to limit downward shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces to limit lateral shaft displacement, a shaft holder having a lower shaft support surface and an upper shaft support surface to limit vertical shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces limit lateral shaft displacement, and a mounting stand.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to currently pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/792,408; filed on Apr. 17, 2006; titled WATERCRAFT STABILIZING PADDLE HOLDER.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

None

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to small watercrafts, and more specifically to a device to help stabilize and minimize the capsizing of small watercrafts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known in the art that small watercrafts such as kayaks and canoes have stability problems such as having a propensity to capsize during their use. The aforementioned problem is most evident during the point in which a user enters and exits the small watercraft.

A number of devices have been developed to address the stability issues of small watercrafts during their such as the attachment of a portable buoyant outrigger assembly to one or both sides of the small watercraft to help stabilize the small watercraft during its use. Although the aforementioned devices work for their intended purpose, they are often relatively cumbersome to use and transport, tend to be expensive, and add to the overall size of the small watercraft during use. In addition, the aforementioned devices do not specifically address the stability issues of small watercrafts during the point in which a user enters and exits the small watercraft.

It is thus desirous to provide for a device, which helps to stabilize and minimize the small watercraft's tendency to capsize, especially during the point of entry and exit of the small watercrafts while minimizing cost and any addition to the overall size of the small watercraft during use and transport.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention helps to solve the problem of small watercraft stability, especially at the point of user entry and exit, by providing for a stabilizing paddle holder whose unique design allows the user to use his or her paddle as an outrigger to assist in stabilizing the small watercraft as the user enters and exits the small watercraft.

More specifically, the present invention comprises a watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit and a watercraft paddle stabilizing system for transversely securing a paddle shaft thereon without the aid of tools.

The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit comprises a shaft brace, a shaft holder, and a mounting stand. The shaft brace includes a lower shaft support surface to limit downward shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces to limit lateral shaft displacement. The shaft holder includes a lower shaft support surface and an upper shaft support surface to limit vertical shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces limit lateral shaft displacement.

The above watercraft stabilizing paddle holder may also include a bolt having a free end extending from the shaft brace, a bolt having a free end extending from the shaft holder, and a first locking member rotatably mountable to the bolt of the shaft brace and a second locking member rotatably mountable to the bolt of the shaft holder for securing the shaft holder and the shaft brace to the watercraft.

The watercraft paddle stabilizing system for transversely securing a paddle shaft thereon without the aid of tools comprises an elongated watercraft having a central axis, a shaft brace, and a shaft holder. The shaft holder and the shaft brace are spaced from each other and are both secured to the top side of the watercraft so that when a paddle shaft is placed in the shaft brace and the shaft holder the paddle shaft extends transverse to the central axis of the watercraft. The shaft holder includes a set of axially extending ears that are spaced from each other to permit inserting of a paddle shaft therebetween and the shaft brace includes at least one paddle shaft supporting slot for supporting said paddle shaft thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 1,369,670 teaches a boat having a buoy secured to each side of the boat to prevent the boat from capsizing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,417 teaches a stabilizing unit for canoes having cylindrical polyurethane foam floats formed thereon.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,262 teaches a pair of shallow vertical dimensioned stabilizing wings secured to a sailboat to prevent the sailboat from capsizing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,551 teaches a an outrigger assembly mountable to a small watercraft to stabilize the small watercraft during use.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,196 teaches a sponson that is quickly attached to the hull of a kayak and inflated by the kayaker while seated in the cockpit and able to use a paddle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,844 teaches a an extensible stabilizing float shaped to conform to the side of the hull of a boat is stored thereagainst while transporting or portaging the canoe.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,126 teaches a modular watercraft system for assembling a plurality of different multi-hull boat configurations.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,600 teaches a unitary inflatable sleeve that fits over a kayak paddle blade to function as an outrigger to assist the user in righting the kayak and reentering the cockpit from the water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a stabilizing paddle holder mounted to a coaming of a kayak;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the stabilizing paddle holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the stabilizing paddle holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the stabilizing paddle holder mounted to a kayak while supporting the paddle shaft;

FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing the securement of the stabilizing paddle holder to the kayak while supporting the paddle shaft;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the securement of the stabilizing paddle holder to the kayak while supporting the paddle shaft; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional partial view showing a stabilizing paddle holder directly formed to a small watercraft through the use of an aftermarket kit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a stabilizing paddle holder 10 of the present invention mounted to a small watercraft such as a kayak 11, and more specifically, to a portion of a coaming 12 of the kayak 12 to help a user, with the aid of a paddle, stabilize and prevent the kayak 11 from capsizing during use, and more crucially, at the point that the user enters and exits the kayak 11. It is noted that although the stabilizing paddle holder 10 will be shown and discuss hereinafter as used in conjunction with kayak 11, the stabilizing paddle holder 10 of the present invention can also be used with other small watercrafts, including canoes and oar boats for example, to help relieve stability and capsizing issues of the small watercraft.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, FIG. 2 shows a perspective view and FIG. 3 shows a top view of the stabilizing paddle holder 10. Stabilizing paddle holder 10 generally comprises a mounting stand 13 having a shape that preferably conforms to the shape of a section of the coaming 12 of the kayak 11. The mounting stand 13 includes a shaft holder 14 and a shaft brace 16 supported thereon. Although shaft holder 14 and a shaft brace 16 can be made from a variety of materials, in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, shaft holder 14 and a shaft brace 16 each comprises a rigid elastomer that is sufficient hard so as to maintain a shaft therein when vertical and horizontal forces are exerted on the shaft holder during entry and exit from the watercraft.

The shaft brace 16 of the stabilizing paddle holder 10 includes at least one paddle shaft-supporting slot 17 for supporting a second portion of the paddle shaft thereon. Paddle shaft-supporting slot 17 comprises a lower shaft support surface 17 a to limit downward shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces 17 b to limit lateral shaft displacement. It is noted that shaft brace 16 is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 as having two paddle-shaft supporting slot 17.

The shaft holder 14 includes a lower shaft support surface 14 a and a paddle shaft grasping member for lockingly securing a paddle shaft 18, shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, at an angle to the kayak 11. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the paddle shaft-grasping member is shown as comprising a pair of angled ears 15 for lockingly securing paddle shaft 18 at a transverse angle to a central axis 11 a of the kayak 1. The Angled ears 15 are shown as each having an upper shaft support surface 15 a, which functions to limit vertical shaft displacement and lateral shaft support surfaces 15 b for limiting lateral shaft displacement.

The lower shaft support surface 17 a and the pair of lateral shaft support surfaces 17 b of shaft brace 16 and the lower shaft support surface 14 a and the pair of lateral shaft support surfaces 15 b of shaft holder 14 generally comprise frictional surfaces for inhibiting axial shaft displacement therein. That is, when paddle shaft 18 is supported by shaft holder 14 and shaft brace 16 in a “use” condition, the lower shaft support surfaces 14 a and 17 a and the lateral shaft support surfaces 15 b and 17 b function to provide sufficient frictional resistance to prevent axial slippage of the paddle shaft 18 as a person enters or exits the kayak 11. The aforementioned simultaneous support of paddle shaft 18 by shaft brace 16 and securement of paddle shaft 18 by shaft holder 14 with shaft 18 positioned transverse to the central axis 11 a of the kayak 11 allows a blade portion of a paddle (not shown) to rest on a support surface and act as an outrigger for the kayak 11 to help stabilize and minimize the propensity of the kayak 11 to capsize especially at the point when the user enters and exits the kayak 11.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, FIG. 4 is a perspective partial view showing the stabilizing paddle holder 10 mounted to the kayak 11 while supporting paddle shaft 18 thereon. FIG. 5 is a partial side view and FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view both showing the securement of the stabilizing paddle holder 10 to the kayak 11 while supporting paddle shaft 18 thereon.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the stabilizing paddle holder 10 is shown mounted to the kayak 11, and more specifically to the coaming 12 of the kayak 11 in a secured manner through the aid of a first L-brackets 19 and a second L-brackets 20, which cooperate with the mounting stand 13 to form a clamping member. This is done by sandwichingly mounting a region of the kayak coaming 12 between a portion of the mounting stand 13 and an arm 19 a of the first L-bracket 19 and an arm 20 a of the second L-bracket 20 with the mounting stand 13 engaging a top side or an exterior surface 12 a of the kayak coaming 12 and the arms 19 a, 20 a of each of the L-brackets 19, 20 engaging an underside 12 b of the kayak coaming 12.

Once the mounting stand 13 and the arms 19 a, 20 a of each of the L-Brackets 19, 20 are engaged to the coaming 12, a first locking member comprising a first wing nut 21 is rotatably mounted to a free end 23 a of a bolt 23 extending from the shaft brace 16 through a first region of the mounting stand 13 and a region of the arm 20 a of the first L-bracket 19 and a second locking member comprising a second wing nut 22 is rotatably mounted to a free end 24 a of a bolt 24 extending from the shaft holder 14 through a second region of the mounting stand 13 and a region of the arm 20 a of the second L-bracket 20. Wing nut 21 and 22 are then turned to tighten and secure the stabilizing paddle holder 10 to the kayak coaming 12.

Although the locking members are shown in the present embodiments as comprising a wing nuts 21 and 22, other type of locking members including but not limited to various type of nuts, tightening knobs, and locking flanges may can also be used to tighten and secure the stabilizing paddle holder 10 to the kayak coaming 12. In addition, although the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 show the use of two (2) L-Brackets 19, 20 alternative embodiments may comprise the use of a single elongated L-Bracket having a length proximal the length of the mounting stand 13.

As an alternative to the above, once mounting stand 13 engages the top side or exterior surface 12 a of the kayak coaming 12 and the arms 19 a, 20 a of the pair of L-brackets 19, 20 engage the underside 12 b of the kayak coaming 12, the shaft brace 16 and the shaft holder 14 of the stabilizing paddle holder 10 can function as knobs and be turned to tighten and secure the stabilizing paddle holder 10 to the kayak 11. In addition, instead of the use of locking member rotatably mounted to bolts 23, 24 extending from the shaft holder 14 and the shaft brace 16 to secure the stabilizing paddle holder 10 to the kayak coaming 12, the stabilizing paddle holder 10 alternatively may be molded to the kayak 11, such as during the manufacturing of kayak 11 or secured to the kayak 11 through the use of adhesives.

Once the stabilizing paddle holder 10 is secured to the kayak 11, paddle shaft 18 can then be supported on the stabilizing paddle holder 10 by sliding the paddle shaft 18 between the ears 15 of the shaft holder 14 until the paddle shaft clears the upper shaft support surfaces 15 a of the ears 15. Next, one rotates the paddle shaft 18 approximately 45 degrees to lockingly secure the paddle shaft to the stabilizing paddle holder 10 and to align the paddle shaft 18 with the slot 17 in the shaft brace 16. The paddle shaft 18 is then further supported by shaft brace 16. If the stabilizing paddle holder 10 is positioned correctly on kayak 11, this will allow the paddle shaft 18 to be extended at a perpendicular angle to the kayak 11. The aforementioned allows a blade portion of the paddle to rest on a support surface such as a ground surface, a shore surface or a beach surface and act as an outrigger to the kayak 11 thereby helping to stabilize and minimize the propensity of kayak 11 to capsize, especially at the crucial point during which the user enters and exits the kayak 11. That is, the user can place his or her body weight on the paddle, between the shore and the kayak 11 when getting in and out of the kayak 11. Since the paddle is locked onto the kayak 11 and resting on the support surface such as the ground, the paddle will function to help minimize the chance of the user tipping over the watercraft as the user is getting in and out of the kayak 11.

Referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional partial view showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the stabilizing paddle holder is directly attached to a watercraft 25. The aforementioned can be done by mounting the shaft brace 26 and the shaft holder 27 directly to the watercraft 25 through the use of an after market kit. An example of the process of installing the after market stabilizing paddle holder kit comprises the steps of: (1) selecting a shaft brace location and a shaft holder location on a watercraft 25 with the shaft holder location spaced from the shaft brace location; (2) securing a shaft brace 26 having at least one paddle shaft supporting slot 26 a to the shaft brace location on the watercraft 25; and (3) securing a shaft holder 27 having a paddle shaft grasping member 27 a to the shaft holder location on the watercraft 25. The aforementioned method can also include the steps (4) using an adhesive to secure the shaft brace 26 to the shaft brace location on the watercraft 25 and the shaft holder 27 to the shaft holder location on the watercraft 25.

The above method can further include the steps (5) drilling a shaft brace guide hole 28 through the shaft brace location and a shaft holder guide hole 29 through the shaft holder location on the watercraft 25; (6) inserting a free end 30 a of a bolt 30 extending from the shaft brace 26 through the shaft brace guide hole 30 a; (7) inserting a free end 31 a of a bolt 31 extending from the shaft holder 27 through the shaft holder guide hole 29; and (8) rotatably mounting a first locking member 32 to the bolt 30 of the shaft brace 26 and a second locking member 33 to the bolt 31 of the shaft holder 27 to secure the shaft holder 27 and the shaft brace 26 to the watercraft 25.

In further regards to FIG. 7, although the stabilizing paddle holder is shown directly attached to the watercraft through the use of the after market kit, the stabilizing paddle holder of the present invention can alternatively be directly and integrally formed to the small watercraft at the factory during the manufacturing process of the watercraft.

The present invention may also include a method of temporarily securing a stabilizing shaft 18 to a watercraft 11 without the aid of tools comprising the steps of: (1) extending a portion of a paddle shaft 18 past a set of spaced apart ears 15; (2) rotating the paddle shaft 18 until the paddle shaft 18 is vertically restrained by the spaced apart ears 15 and is transverse to a central axis 11 a of the watercraft 11; and (3) lowering a further portion of the paddle shaft 18 into a slot 17 in a shaft brace 16 to prevent lateral displacement of the paddle shaft 18 so that the spaced apart ears 15 and the shaft brace 16 coact to hold the paddle shaft 18 transverse to the central axis 11 a of the watercraft 11 to enable the paddle shaft 18 to form a ground stabilizing leg as a person enters or exits the watercraft 11. 

1. A water craft stabilizing paddle holder kit comprising: a shaft brace having a lower shaft support surface to limit downward shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces to limit lateral shaft displacement; a shaft holder having a lower shaft support surface and an upper shaft support surface to limit vertical shaft displacement and a pair of lateral shaft support surfaces limit lateral shaft displacement; and a mounting stand.
 2. The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of claim 1 wherein the lower shaft support surface and the pair of lateral shaft support surfaces comprise frictional surfaces for inhibiting axial shaft displacement therein.
 3. The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of claim 1 wherein the shaft brace comprises a rigid elastomer.
 4. The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of claim 1 wherein the kit includes a clamp for securing the mounting stand to a watercraft.
 5. The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of claim 1 wherein said mounting stand comprises a portion of a watercraft.
 6. The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of claim 1 wherein said mounting stand comprises a shape that conforms to a section of a coaming of a watercraft.
 7. The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of claim 1 wherein the lower shaft support surface and the pair of lateral shaft support surfaces of said shaft holder form a set of axially extending ears that are spaced from each other to permit inserting of a paddle shaft therebetween.
 8. The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of claim 1 including: a bolt having a free end extending from said shaft brace; a bolt having a free end extending from said shaft holder; and a first locking member rotatably mountable to said bolt of said shaft brace and a second locking member rotatably mountable to said bolt of said shaft holder for securing said shaft holder and said shaft brace to said watercraft.
 9. The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of claim 1 wherein the lower shaft support surface and the pair of lateral shaft support surfaces of said shaft brace comprises a paddle shaft-supporting slot.
 10. The watercraft stabilizing paddle holder kit of claim 1 wherein the kit includes an adhesive for securing the shaft brace and the shaft holder to a watercraft.
 11. A watercraft paddle stabilizing system for transversely securing a paddle shaft thereon without the aid of tools comprising: an elongated watercraft having a central axis; a shaft brace; and a shaft holder and the shaft brace secured to the top side of the watercraft so that when a paddle shaft is placed in said shaft brace and said shaft holder the paddle shaft extends transverse to the central axis of the watercraft.
 12. The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of claim 10 wherein the shaft brace and the shaft holder are spaced from each other.
 13. The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of claim 10 wherein the shaft brace and the shaft holder include frictional surfaces for inhibiting axial slippage therein.
 14. The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of claim 10 wherein the shaft holder includes a set of axially extending ears that are spaced from each other to permit inserting of a paddle shaft therebetween.
 15. The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of claim 14 wherein the set of axially extending ears extend past each other so that when a shaft is inserted between and past the ears the shaft can be rotated into a condition to prevent a vertical release of the paddle shaft.
 16. The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of claim 10 wherein the shaft brace and shaft holder are integral to the watercraft.
 17. The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of claim 10 including an adhesive securing the shaft holder and the shaft brace to the topside of the watercraft.
 18. The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of claim 10 wherein the shaft brace includes at least one paddle shaft-supporting slot for supporting said paddle shaft thereon.
 19. The watercraft paddle stabilizing system of claim 10 including a mounting stand securing the shaft holder and the shaft brace to the watercraft.
 20. A method of temporarily securing a stabilizing shaft to a watercraft without the aid of tools comprising the steps of: extending a portion of a paddle shaft past a set of spaced apart ears; rotating the paddle shaft until the paddle shaft is vertically restrained by the spaced apart ears and is transverse to a central axis of the watercraft; and lowering a further portion of the paddle shaft into a slot in a shaft brace to prevent lateral displacement of the paddle shaft so that the spaced apart ears and the shaft brace coact to hold the paddle shaft transverse to the central axis of the watercraft to enable the paddle shaft to form a ground stabilizing leg as a person enters or exits the watercraft. 